Kataragama Devalaya in Badulla (බදුල්ල කතරගම දේවාලය)

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Badulla is an ancient subkingdom of the Kandyan Kingdom and also one of the few places to be honoured by the visit of Gauthama Buddha. The origin of the Kataragama Devalaya at Badulla is unknown but has been flourishing since the 17th century. King Kumarasinhe is one of the legends of this kingdom who destroyed a large Portuguese army that invaded the Badulla under the leadership of Constantine de Saa. The final battle occurring at a paddy field called Randeniyawela was one of the first and bloodiest defeats of the Portugues and is now known as the Battle of Randeniwela.
The Portuguese army under Constantine de Saa entered Badulla towards the end of August in 1630, is reported to have ransacked and torched the entire city, particularly the Badulla Kataragama Devalaya. To starve the people, they destroyed over 2000 measures of rice in the stalk’ and all the cattle he could find in the countryside.
The Kataragama Devale at Badulla was again re-constructed by King Rajasinghe II of the Kandyan Kingdom (1635 - 1687) based on the Kanyan Traditions. The Devale roof is supported on elegantly carved timber columns with lotus bracket capitals. The wood carvings of the Sihasana Mandapaya building at the front of the Devale are as exquisite as the carvings of Embekke Devalaya. This building is thought to have been the platform from which the King ( Rajasinhe II) viewed the Devalaya Procession.

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